New .au domain names coming to Australia

From 24 March 2022, new .au domain names will be available for individuals and businesses with an Australian presence. The new .au domain features are: 

  • The name of choosing will be directly before the .au (e.g. yournamehere.au) 
  • The domain name does not have to match the name of the goods or services provided or the individual or business name 

The .au namespace will allow for shorter and therefore potentially more memorable domain names to be registered. Applications still must be made through .au Domain Administration-accredited registrars and are subject to auDA licensing rules.  

The process of allocation of domain names favours those with existing domains and legitimate interest in obtaining .au domain names and should therefore help to prevent domain name squatting. However, this prevention relies on the applicants being aware of the process and the timing issues, as applications for .au domain names will be granted on a first come first served basis from 24 March 2022. 
 

What to do if you want to secure your .au domain name

If you wish to secure a unique .au domain name, ensure you set a reminder for March 2022 to ensure you do not miss out.

In the event you want to secure your original domain name (e.g. com.au, net.au, org.au, edu.au and gov.au) as a .au domain name, you will have a corresponding .au domain name reserved for a six-month priority period (ending on 24 September 2022) during which only you as the owner of your corresponding AU domain name will be eligible to apply for the .au domain name.   

If you don’t make a priority application, the .au domain name will be available to anyone from 24 September 2022 on a first come, first served basis.